Who Will Be Penn State’s Best Players in 2026?

On paper, Penn State’s 2026 roster features substantially less talent than the previous year.

The Nittany Lions lost five-star recruits Drew Allar (Pittsburgh Steelers), Nick Singleton (Tennessee Titans), Dani Dennis-Sutton (Green Bay Packers), Luke Reynolds (Virginia Tech), Nolan Rucci (Indianapolis Colts) and J’Ven Williams (Charlotte) this offseason, along with numerous four-star prospects.

To backfill, the new coaching staff brought in 40 transfer portal players — including 24 from Iowa State — who were mainly three-stars or below out of high school.

But games aren’t played on paper, and Penn State’s preseason win total sits at 8.5 according to major sportsbooks, markedly higher than the six regular season wins of a year ago, indicating higher expectations despite the supposed roster regression.

And regardless of the high turnover, there’s plenty of talent on the team, whether via returning players or portal pickups. Here’s a look at the top names to know with less than a month until kickoff.

Safety Marcus Neal Jr.

Arguably Penn State’s top addition this offseason, Neal arrives as a largely under-the-radar NFL prospect. While some analysts seem to have caught on (multiple first-round draft projections), Neal has also been left off most preseason All-Big Ten teams heading into the year, creating wide-ranging expectations.

The former third-team All-Big 12 honoree tallied 77 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack last season as a true sophomore, adding a strong 84.0 PFF grade in run defense.

His physical skill set should translate well to the Big Ten and he’ll get continuity under position coach Deon Broomfield, who was one of several coaches to arrive from Iowa State this offseason.

Linebacker Tony Rojas

If it weren’t for a season-ending injury sustained during practice last season, Rojas would likely be attending NFL training camp this month. Instead, he’s heading into his senior season as one of the top linebackers in the conference.

After bouncing back from an up-and-down 2024 campaign, Rojas tallied 25 tackles and two sacks through just four games last fall before tearing his ACL.

Having chosen to remain in Happy Valley rather than enter the transfer portal, he’s a key defensive player to watch with All-Big Ten potential and strong leadership abilities.

Tight End Ben Brahmer

One of the biggest (literally) transfer portal pickups of the offseason, the Nittany Lions brought in former Iowa State tight end Ben Brahmer.

Happy Valley’s tight end lineage appears to be in good hands with the 6-foot-7, 250-pound play-making senior. Though he was overlooked as a wide receiver recruit out of high school, Brahmer blossomed into one of the nation’s premier tight ends last season, emerging with 37 receptions for 446 yards and six touchdowns.

His size and physicality make Brahmer a reliable safety valve on critical downs and in the red zone, and his background as a wideout means good hands and route running. Blocking has been the biggest adjustment, but with another offseason working under position coach Taylor Mouser, who has a strong track record of development, that weakness may be eliminated.

Offensive Lineman Anthony Donkoh

Donkoh returns for his redshirt junior campaign as a top-tier NFL prospect with starting experience at both right guard and right tackle.

After moving inside to guard last season, he excelled, allowing just one sack on 330 dropbacks. While health has been his primary challenge, he remains one of the most talented offensive linemen in the conference.

Securing Donkoh’s return this offseason was a big win for the staff, and he’s expecting to anchor the line as a third-year starter who had the opportunity to leave for the professional ranks over the offseason.

Safety Jeremiah Cooper

A productive transfer from Iowa State, Cooper brings a wealth of experience to the Nittany Lions’ defensive backfield.

The former three-star recruit stepped into a starting role as a true freshman in 2022 and consistently proved his worth as one of the Big 12’s most reliable safeties, tallying 32, 45, and 48 tackles across three seasons, while racking up seven interceptions and 19 pass break-ups.

After being converted to an emergency cornerback in 2025, Cooper demonstrated his coverage skills, allowing only five receptions on 14 targets before a season-ending ACL injury cut his campaign short.

Fully healthy and returning to his natural position of safety for the 2026 season, Cooper is primed to be a significant playmaker for the defense, reuniting with coach Broomfield and fellow safety Neal in State College.

Kicker Ryan Barker

While Penn State endured a challenging 2025 campaign, kicker Ryan Barker emerged as one of the bright spots on the roster.

The former walk-on turned starter proved to be a beacon of stability, cementing himself atop program record books after converting 18 of 19 field goal attempts (94.7%) last season, setting a new school record.

Known for his unflappable demeanor in high-pressure situations — most notably his walk-off game-winner against USC in 2024 — Barker has become a critical and often overlooked weapon for the special teams unit.